Youth group tent sale all three days to fund the cost of traveling to the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio in 2013. On Saturday, the Oktoberfest German dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. and Miller's Hometown Band will play from 5 to 8 p.m.

CORTLAND

Preschool Story Time

Time: 10 a.m.

Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday; next, Oct. 3

Place: Cortland Community Library, 63 S. Somonauk Road

More information: 815-756-7274 or www.cortlandlibrary.com

For children 3 and older. No registration required.

First Grade & Up Story and Craft

Time: 4 p.m.

Date: Every Thursday; next, Oct. 4

Place: Cortland Community Library, 63 S. Somonauk Road

More information: 815-756-7274 or www.cortlandlibrary.com

Registration required.

Fall Festival and Parade

Time: 1 p.m.

Date: Sunday, Oct. 14

Place: Cortland Community Park

More information: www.cortlandil.org

Parade at 1 p.m. Rides, vendors and live music at the free festival, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

DeKALB

Toddler Time

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 3

Place: DeKalb Public Library youth services

Stories, songs and rhymes for toddlers and preschoolers. No registration required.

Teacher in the Library

Time: 4 – 5:15 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 3

Place: DeKalb Public Library youth services

More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 250

Retired teacher Marti Brown will tutor and provide homework help for students in third through fifth grades. Register in advance online, by phone or at the youth services desk. The service is free, but is limited to five students.

NIU is one of only 21 colleges nationwide chosen to screen this film about a 33-year-old mother of two who was killed by her husband when she decided to leave him after suffering years of abuse. This year marks the 11th anniversary of her death. Victim Advocacy Services of the Women's Resource Center at NIU will host the documentary, then discuss key elements of the film and the dynamics of domestic violence.

The student chapter of Engineers Without Borders will collect new and used shoes in any condition. Useable shoes will be distributed to needy children in Africa. Funds raised will help the group travel to Tanzania to improve a secondary school.

'Mark Twain and the Laughing River'

Time: 6 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 4

Place: Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 260 or edithc@dkpl.org

Jim Post gives a funny and witty performance as Mark Twain. The show incorporates information about Mark Twain's life and books with a little music. Free copies of "Tom Sawyer" will be available.

Mary Robinette Kowal, author of "Shades of Milk and Honey," 2008 winner of the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and 2011 winner of the Hugo Award for Short Story, will lead a discussion of storytelling in two media. Kowal has been a finalist for the Nebula and Locus awards and her work has been widely published. She is a professional puppeteer and voice actor who has performed for "LazyTown," the Center for Puppetry Arts and Jim Henson Pictures. She founded Other Hand Productions, and her designs have won two UNIMA-USA Citations of Excellence, the highest award for American puppeteers.

Blues Gone Wild

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Date: First Thursday of each month; next, Oct. 4

Place: The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway

More information: 815-787-9547 or http://thehousecafe.net

Monthly blues jam. Come to listen or to play. All-ages show.

'Not Now, Darling'

Time: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

Dates: Oct. 4 – 6 and 11 – 14

Place: Stage Coach Theater, 126 S. Fifth St.

Tickets: Adults $12, children younger than 12, $9

More information: 815-758-1940 or www.stagecoachers.com

Suspicious wives, mistaken identities, scantily clad girls clapped hurriedly into closets and a continuous barrage of rapid fire jokes in this comedy about minks and mistresses.

Costume Sale

Time: 3 – 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday

Dates: Oct. 5 and 6

Place: Black Box Theatre, DeKalb High School, 501 W. Dresser Road

The DeKalb High School theater department is cleaning out its costume room. Retired costumes, some small props and T-shirts from past shows will be sold. Proceeds will purchase costumes and props for future shows.

'Rocky Horror Picture Show' with Shadow Cast

Time: 8 p.m.

Date: Friday, Oct. 5

Place: Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

Tickets: $10

More information: www.egyptiantheatre.org

Electronics Recycling Collection

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6

Place: Municipal parking lot at Fourth and Grove streets

More information: 815-748-2408

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk

Time: 10 a.m. check in, 11 a.m. walk

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6

Place: Hopkins Park

More information: afsp.donordrive.com/event/DeKalb

Dave Stoddard Memorial Golf Outing

Time: Noon shotgun start; dinner at 5 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6

Place: River Heights Golf Course

Cost: $80 individual, $300 foursome, $15 dinner only

More information: 815-766-2805 or 815-751-4166

Cost includes greens fees, cart rental, beverage tickets and dinner. Proceeds support the Dave Stoddard Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a DeKalb High School student each year.

Book Signing Event

Time: 2 – 4 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6

Place: Barnes & Noble

Local author Margaret "Margy" Wright will sign copies of her first novel, "Pursuit of the Nightingale."

Tickets: Adults $15, seniors and students $10, children younger than 12 $5

More information: www.kishorchestra.org

The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs music by French Impressionist composers Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. Tickets can be purchased at the door 30 minutes before the show.

DeKalb Firefighters Historical Foundation Breakfast

Time: 8 a.m. – noon

Date: Sunday, Oct. 7

Place: Fire Station 1, 700 Pine St.

Cost: Adults $5, children 4-10 $3. Free for children younger than 4.

More information: todd.stoffa@cityofdekalb.com or 630-417-4139

In addition to the pancake breakfast, there will be an open house at the station. Tour the station and see current and retired firefighting equipment and historical items.

Adventure!@Your Library

Time: 1 – 5 p.m.

Date: Sunday, Oct. 7

Place: DeKalb Public Library meeting room

More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 280 or stever@dkpl.org

For DeKalb-area teens in junior high and high school. Thrill to the twists and turns of a story you help create. Space is limited and registration is required.

Big Read to a Huskie

Time: 1 – 4 p.m.

Date: Sunday, Oct. 7

Place: DeKalb Public Library youth services

Children can turn the tables and read to student volunteers from Northern Illinois University, then talk about the story they chose. A large chocolate bear from the Confectionary will be raffled off. Drop-in any time during the event.

Reception for Carmen L. Armstrong, whose work will be displayed Oct. 1-27.

'A Christmas Carol' Auditions

Time: 7 – 9 p.m.

Dates: Oct. 8 and 9

Place: Stage Coach Theater, 126 S. Fifth St.

More information: www.stagecoachers.com

Stage Coach Players is in need of adult actors for speaking, nonspeaking and singing roles in its December production of "A Christmas Carol." Actors 16 and older will be asked to perform a cold reading of the script. Vocalists are asked to come to the Monday audition.

Maintain a Healthy Heart

Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 9

Place: Kish Hospital's Roberts Conference Center

More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishhospital.org/programs

Cardiologist Shaun Kurien will discuss risk factors for heart disease and how to manage them. Registration is required and closes three days before program date.

'Media Coverage and Presidential Elections'

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 9

Place: Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center

Mark Stencel, NPR’s managing editor for digital news, will speak in this installment of the Northern Illinois University Presidential Speaker Series.

Donations will be accepted at this free concert. The program is titled "Service" and is dedicated to all medical personnel, emergency responders, teachers and the military.

Salad Bar Luncheon

Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Date: Monday, Oct. 15

Place: St. Mary's Church cafeteria, 425 N. Fourth St.

Tickets: $8

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Immaculate Conception 996 will hold a luncheon to raise funds for local and national charities including Hope Haven, Safe Passage, Smile Train and the Tutwiler Clinic. Menu includes ham, meatballs, an assortment or homemade salads and dessert. Carryouts are available.

Open auditions for a production of "Rent." Those auditioning must be at least 15 years old and will be expected to perform a contemporary a cappella song of their choice and to read from a selection of monologues. Performers younger than 18 must have a signed parental/guardian consent form or they will not be allowed to audition. Performances are slated for January.

GENOA

Walk-in Blood Pressure Clinic

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.

Date: Wednesdays; next, Oct. 3

Place: KishHealth Family and Specialty Care

A community wellness professional monitors blood pressure weekly. Receive blood pressure information and a tracking card. No registration necessary.

Entry fee includes one 50/50 raffle ticket. Event includes food vendors, a beer tent, live music by three bands, children's games, facepainting, two moon bounces, a balloon artist and a magician. Proceeds support the charitable efforts of the Genoa Lions Club.

Medicare Open Enrollment Presentation

Time: 11:45 a.m.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 9

Place: Genoa Senior Center, 400 E. Second St.

More information: 815-758-4718

Topics will include what to consider when choosing a Medicare drug plan. Handouts will be available. To have lunch at the senior center, RSVP by phone by 10 a.m.

Bingo

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Every Tuesday; next, Oct. 9

Place: Genoa Veterans Home, 311 S. Washington St.

Blood Drive

Time: 4 – 6:30 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10

Place: Trinity Lutheran Church, 33930 N. State

Control Your Cholesterol

Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 11

Place: KishHealth Family & Specialty Care

More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishhospital.org/programs

Whether your levels are high or normal, you can make lifestyle changes to maintain healthy cholesterol. If you have your cholesterol results, bring them. Registration is required and closes three days before the program date.

Mark Moran, former senior editor of antiques and collectibles books, guest expert on Antiques Roadshow and author or coauthor of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles will appraise fine art, furniture, ceramics, glassware, vintage photographs, advertising materials, folk art, toys, metalware, clocks and costume jewelry. There is no fee for this event, but registration is required if you are bringing items for appraisal.

Youth in sixth grade and older are invited to a lock-in with music by Captive Free, pizza and Wii dancing.

LEE

All You Can Eat Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner

Time: 5 – 7:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 13

Place: St. James Parish Hall, 221 W. Kirke Gate

Cost: Adults $8, kids 5 and younger eat free

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council #15153. Carryouts available. There will be a 50/50 raffle.

MALTA

Tribute to Heroes

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 4

Place: Kishwaukee College

Tickets: $50

More information: 630-297-5948 or 815-739-9001

Paying tribute to members of the DeKalb County community who have dedicated themselves to community service and the development of youth. This year's honorees are Bob Coulter, Ken Doubler, Denny Rehn and Mike and Jenelle Muzzillo. Proceeds from the banquet support the Boy Scouts of DeKalb County.

Medicare Open Enrollment Presentation

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Date: Friday, Oct. 12

Place: Malta Senior Center, 115 S. Third St.

More information: 815-758-4718

Topics will include what to consider when choosing a Medicare drug plan. Handouts will be available.

Get a sneak preview of Sycamore History Museum's new exhibit, "Play," opening to the public on Oct. 13.

'Putting the Garden to Bed'

Time: 6 – 7 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 4

Place: DeKalb County Center for Agriculture, 1350 W. Prairie Drive

Cost: $5

More information: 815-758-8194 or web.extension.illinois.edu.bdo

Learn how to close your garden this fall for a more productive spring. Registration preferred.

Blackwood Brothers in Concert

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 4

Place: Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave.

More information: 815-895-9113

Legendary gospel quartet in concert.

Wellness Presentation

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 4

Place: Sheedy Chiropractic, 920 W. Prairie Drive, Ste. J

Holistic registered nurse Mary Terdich will explain why genetics are not your destiny when it comes to wellness, how to make better food choices, how to reduce your risk of cancer and chronic diseases and more.

Sycamore Angels Rebekah Lodge 106 5K walk begins and ends at the lodge. There will be refreshments available at the turnaround point at the Rotary Park lake. The walk will be followed by a social gathering with food and raffles at the lodge.

Rummage Sale

Time: 9 a.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6

Place: 317 W. State St.

Proceeds will benefit community programs supported by the Moose Lodge. All items not sold will go to Moose Charities.

Artist Walk and Studio Tour

Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6

Place: DeKalb and Sycamore

More information: 815-899-9440 or www.sycamoreartattack.org

Meet more than 60 local artists and view their work at more than 13 venues. Art will be available for sale. Tickets are free. Brochures are available at the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, Taxco and Art Attack School of Art in Sycamore and at Mason Properties, the Art Box, the Daily Chronicle, WLBK and the YMCA in DeKalb.